AHLA's Public Interest Convener Sessions are one or one-and-a-half day non-partisan discussions that are facilitated by a panel of experts on a health policy topic with a clear legal nexus. The panel's findings are summarized and published in a comprehensive report that is distributed on a complimentary basis to members, policymakers, healthcare organizations, think tanks, academicians, media and the public. Since 1991, AHLA has held colloquiums and public interest convener sessions on a variety of health law topics.
- "Objectivity v. Commercialization" Academic Medical Center Institutional Conflicts of Interest in Research: An Academic Discussion
(2011)
In support of scientific research, society places value on two potentially inconsistent objectives: promoting objectivity in the scientific process while simultaneously promoting commercialization of the results of that process. These potentially inconsistent objectives at the institutional level will be explored in an interactive discussion between individuals representing academic medical centers and participants from research and government agencies.
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A Public Policy Discussion: Taking the Measure of the Stark Law (2009)
AHLA's Public Interest Committee convened sixteen pre-eminent national experts on Stark law to discuss the efficacy of the federal physician self-referral statute. AHLA published a White Paper summarizing the main points for distrubition to government leaders and AHLA members.
- Pandemic and H5N1 Flu: A Prescription for Preparedness (2008)
On May 2, 2008, AHLA's Public Interest Committee brought together a select but diverse panel of legal experts, healthcare providers, government leaders and healthcare and emergency management scholars to discuss the critical legal and ethical issues involved in pandemic preparedness planning. The primary purpose of the session was to bring together the subject matter experts to share their best thinking regarding legal impediments and implementation challenges to community pan-flu preparedness and practical solutions to such challenges as well as ways for healthcare providers to coordinate preparedness planning with local, state, and federal authorities to ensure practical utility. The session was co-sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A Pan Flu Checklist was developed as a result of this dialogue session.